Hillsboro took another step toward bringing short-season Single-A baseball
to the city by June 2013, as the city council unanimously approved a 20-year
offer sheet at their meeting Tuesday as well as an agreement to award
construction of a new baseball stadium at the Gordon Faber Recreation
Complex.

Some work remains on the deal, but city officials said the offer sheet
is the foundation of what will be the 20-year lease agreement. Short Season LLC,
the owner of the Yakima Bears, will be responsible for annual payments of
$150,000 to the city to rent the facility, increasing three percent annually.
The team retains all revenue from ticket sales, aside from a $1 surcharge that
goes to the city. All parking revenue goes to the city.

The total stadium cost is not to exceed $15.2 million, which the city will
finance with the issuance of 20-year bonds. Hoffman Construction and SRG Partnership are designing and constructing the facility.

City finance officials acknowledge
that while revenue projections show the city should cover the expected annual $284,000 in operating expenses, the city could have to dip into the general
fund as a "last resort" to pay the remainder of the annual debt payment.

Hillsboro Mayor Jerry Willey said he wasn't concerned about that, citing a city
study that put the economic impact of the stadium at $7.5 million annually. Willey also said the city has assets like the Strategic Investment Program with Intel to cover any additional costs.

The eight-member Northwest League, Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball still have a say in the process. The relocation plan must be approved as well as designs for the new stadium. City
officials hope to break ground in October.